How old will you be in 2069? That’s when Xcel’s biggest coal plant will be retired – when kids born today will be 58 years old.
According to the Physicians for Social Responsibility,
Detrimental health effects are associated with every aspect of coal’s life cycle, including mining, hauling, preparation at the power plant, combustion, and the disposal of post-combustion wastes. In addition, the discharge of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere associated with burning coal is a major contributor to global warming and its adverse effects on health worldwide.
Boulder is at a crossroads. ...

Xcel’s biggest coal plant will be retired in 2069. Xcel says that we will have over 1800 MW of coal plants for the foreseeable future – 50% coal in 2020. Xcel says that in 2020, even with their renewable plans, we will see only a 28% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Xcel also says that even at today’s 11% renewables, coal fired power plants force wind farms to be turned off (“curtailed”) even when the wind is blowing so Xcel can burn coal. So Xcel customers pay for both the coal electricity and the “turned-off” wind – $3.8 million in 2010 – costs that have skyrocketed...

60% Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions. This could be achieved within a few years with at least 40% renewables, AND with startup rates that must not exceed Xcel’s existing rates at the time. And we lay the foundation for 80% to 100% renewables to come. But if it is determined the municipal utility can’t beat Xcel’s rates, the process will be halted.
The Muni Advantage: Stable Rates, Greater Reliability, Competitive Bidding. Most of the other 29 Colorado municipal utilities enjoy lower rates than we pay and with reliability that has our neighbors smiling....